Social Media - Facebook and Twitter - a useful tool or a waste of time?
14 July 2011
Some time ago we discussed the use of 'social networking' to provide a model that could used by the gas industry as a means of self regulation. That is, the 'social network' of registered installers exchanging views and items of interest with each other for the general benefit of the individual and the group. Perhaps it is time to look at this again and consider how some of the more popular networking sites, such as Twitter and Facebook, could be used to provide an essential service to the gas installer.
I suppose two of the more common sites in use at the moment are probably Twitter and Facebook, and it seems to be a growing trend to post comments and photographs about one's personal life for friends and like minded individuals to share.
Certainly the bigger organisations and many smaller companies have recognised the benefits of having a network of customers, or interested parties. The list of companies relevant to the gas industry is endless - ranging from the HSE, to Gas Safe Register, IGEM, BSI and of course individual training and assessment providers, in addition to appliance manufacturers. The list is endless, and to be honest we have our own Twitter feed and Facebook page.
However, our view of the use of this 'networking' service is maybe slightly different to some of the other organisations. Unfortunately, many users seem to think that the value of the service is measured in the number of posts they make each day - very often there are so many that you lose the will to live wading through them all - and so in the end the service defeats itself. Our view was just to post only items that we thought may be of interest; notification of prosecutions, changes to normative documents, notification of GSR Technical Bulletins etc. If nothing of real interest 'surfaced' for a few days or weeks, so be it and so we don't add anything to our site.
It is of course very easy to dismiss sites such as Twitter and Facebook,. I have to admit I was a 'non-believer' and viewed such sites as a waste of time, full of irrelevant 'banter' from people with nothing else to do. Have I been converted? Well I can certainly see the 'power' of linking interested parties together and sharing information. It is a powerful tool and one I am sure will continue to grow. What is important going forward is that the industry uses new technology to its advantage, but does not get bogged down with useless 'dross' that hides the important information that may make all of our jobs easier. If every registered installer (with internet/mobile phone access) was linked to a specific networking account - an account that only provided essential information just think how quickly important information could be disseminated.
As for our 'social networking' input, we will continue to look through all the available information on a daily basis and add items to our twitter and facebook pages that we think may be of interest.
If you haven’t seen our twitter or facebook pages please go and have a look - you may be pleasantly surprised and even join the 'converts'! Check them out!
Keywords: ViperGas Facebook Twitter Social Media Domestic Natural Gas Handbooks
